Bouncing Quantum Cosmologies

Abstract

Spatially homogeneous cosmological models of Bianchi types I, V and IX (as well as their isotropic counterparts : the Einstein-de Sitter, open and closed Friedmann-Robertson-Walker (FRW) models, respectively), filled with a perfect fluid with an equation of state of the type p = (γ - 1 )ρ (γ = constant comprised between 1 and 2) are quantized in the framework of an ADM-type canonical quantization scheme introduced by Demaret and Moncrief. This method which generalizes a method due to Lund and originally restricted to space-times filled with a pressureless fluid (p = 0) is based on Schutz's Hamiltonian theory of a relativistic perfect fluid, extending to general relativity Seliger and Whitham's velocity-potential version of classical hydrodynamics. It leads to a Schrödinger-like equation for the wave function of the universe, which admits a true physical interpretation in terms of probability as in orthodox quantum mechanics. Contrary to Misner's early results based on a different quantization scheme, our method leads to the conclusion that, apart from a set of measure zero of models comprising FRW models as well as Bianchi models filled with a fluid with a stiff equation of state (p = ρ), all Bianchi models are non-singular, in the sense that the quantum wave function becomes zero at the classical singularity. Such a non-singular model can be interpreted as a contracting universe bouncing into an expanding universe, due to quantum gravitational fluctuations. A similar conclusion of non-singularity of a quantum Bianchi I universe has recently been obtained by Narlikar by using a different method of quantization, i.e. the method of path integration.